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Thank you so much to Simon& Schuster Canada and NetGalley for letting me review this arc!!
After reading American Panda, I just knew whatever Gloria Chao wrote next would be a book I absolutely had to read. American Panda was difficult, and I went into Our Wayward Fate with the same expectation: that I would relate in so many ways, and it would hurt and dredge up old memories and feelings. Despite that, I don’t think I was ready ready? I had to take some breaks, which is fine, because honestly a part of me loves painful books because I feel seen and heard in ways I don’t in other books I’ve read.
There are so many secrets in this book. Like wow, I was not expecting as many twists and turns. I did not see the true intention of the park until it was revealed because I just wasn’t expecting this book to go there for some reason. And when I realized what was happening, I needed to take a break to process it all…
Beginning with Ali…I really loved the distinction between how Americans pronounce Ali (as Allie) and the actual pronunciation. It reminded me of my own middle name, which is also Ali, and how people pronounce it wrong all the time.
Ali is such a fun, messy character. She does and says things that are questionable and sometimes outrageously wrong, yet she has good intentions; she just struggles to voice them appropriately most of the time. Chase’s introduction at Ali’s school was just perfect. I really loved how bold he is and how he stands up against the racism he faces immediately. I loved how he brought out Ali’s spirited side. Seeing Ali change and stand up for herself against her “friends” and her teacher was so inspiring and heartwarming. It’s how I know a lot of kids would like to be, but it can be so scary when you don’t have the support you need from friends or family.
The one problem I had with the romance was that it felt rushed. I think everything happened a bit too fast (though having read the arc and not the finished copy, I don’t know if things are the same). The timeline didn’t span a few months like I was expecting, and by the time Ali is off to China, she hasn’t really known Chase for all that long. But they’re absolutely obsessed with each other in that short span of time, which I guess is totally possible, I’m just picky with romance lol
The other issue I had was with the dialogue. Compared to American Panda, the characters in OWF acted a lot younger, even though they’re only a year or two apart from Mei and Darren. Some of the lines were cringey and the jokes repetitive. It did take me a while to get into the flow because it felt a little awkward at times. Though I think Ali and Chase grow into the characters more and things just fit better by the end?
The Butterfly Lovers…I actually had a friend tell me the story right as I was starting this book. I had no idea that this story was going to be such a major part of the book, so when I finally fit the pieces together I was shook lol. That being said, I really liked the differences in how the story ended compared to the original. I also loved the little snippets we get from the past, where we get to follow along with Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo. And also the flashbacks we get from the park. The park scenes were a little confusing at first, but I think it was done really well because I was surprised when the plot twist was finally revealed.
Ali’s relationship with her family was difficult to read, and honestly seeing what her mother had planned left me pretty angry. It was just something I could relate to on a personal level, something I could see happening to myself, and it was a little scary and triggering. I did love how Ali confronts both her parents and points out their flaws and how she doesn’t back down when they try to explain themselves with their nonsensical excuses. I was really angry at her mother because she’s so selfish. She ruined what she had because her expectations (which she didn’t bother sharing with her husband) weren’t met. She made decisions because she thought she knew best, which is something so common among Asian parents, I was rolling my eyes along with Ali every single time her mom told her that.
The main problem here was lack of communication, which I think is a huge problem in Asian families. We don’t know how to talk about feelings and we also don’t know how to listen to other opinions. And then things become a mess and it just spirals. Communication was a huge theme in this book, from the way Ali skirts around just asking Chase about his past and turns to theft, to her breaking into her mom’s safe because her mom won’t talk to her, to seeing how her father was too ashamed to discuss his feelings with this wife when he lost his tenure, to Ali’s mother making decisions for her instead of talking to her.
It was painful to read. And while I liked how things were on their way to being resolved at the end, I was actually expecting things to go the divorce route, especially considering the things Ali’s mother said to her father and what she almost did to Ali. It is nice for things not to end that way, and it’s nice to see a family try to communicate with each other and solve their issues rather than everything falling apart. But…I don’t know. Maybe I can’t forgive that easily, or having an outside perspective makes me a bit more harsh. But Ali’s mother isn’t great and pretty toxic. And by the end I really hated her a lot. The cultural divide between Ali and her mother and how what her mother says isn’t 100% what she exactly means, was nice to see because it’s a real thing and it really showed how hard and complicated and confusing it can get when you don’t just have lack of communication but a communication divide because of culture. And while we can blame a lot of that for Ali’s mother’s actions, it still doesn’t take away from the fact that what she did was wrong and awful. And I did like how Ali made sure to point that out at the end too. Healing is a difficult process, filled with ups and downs, when one moment you hate everything and are so angry, and the next you feel pity and guilt and sadness. It’s a mess, and I definitely felt like I was a mess at the end.
4/5 stars.
I look forward to reading the finished copy one day, just to see the differences and how the formatting changes. (The epilogue did feel a little confusing because there weren’t any scene breaks in the arc.)
After reading American Panda, I just knew whatever Gloria Chao wrote next would be a book I absolutely had to read. American Panda was difficult, and I went into Our Wayward Fate with the same expectation: that I would relate in so many ways, and it would hurt and dredge up old memories and feelings. Despite that, I don’t think I was ready ready? I had to take some breaks, which is fine, because honestly a part of me loves painful books because I feel seen and heard in ways I don’t in other books I’ve read.
There are so many secrets in this book. Like wow, I was not expecting as many twists and turns. I did not see the true intention of the park until it was revealed because I just wasn’t expecting this book to go there for some reason. And when I realized what was happening, I needed to take a break to process it all…
Beginning with Ali…I really loved the distinction between how Americans pronounce Ali (as Allie) and the actual pronunciation. It reminded me of my own middle name, which is also Ali, and how people pronounce it wrong all the time.
Ali is such a fun, messy character. She does and says things that are questionable and sometimes outrageously wrong, yet she has good intentions; she just struggles to voice them appropriately most of the time. Chase’s introduction at Ali’s school was just perfect. I really loved how bold he is and how he stands up against the racism he faces immediately. I loved how he brought out Ali’s spirited side. Seeing Ali change and stand up for herself against her “friends” and her teacher was so inspiring and heartwarming. It’s how I know a lot of kids would like to be, but it can be so scary when you don’t have the support you need from friends or family.
The one problem I had with the romance was that it felt rushed. I think everything happened a bit too fast (though having read the arc and not the finished copy, I don’t know if things are the same). The timeline didn’t span a few months like I was expecting, and by the time Ali is off to China, she hasn’t really known Chase for all that long. But they’re absolutely obsessed with each other in that short span of time, which I guess is totally possible, I’m just picky with romance lol
The other issue I had was with the dialogue. Compared to American Panda, the characters in OWF acted a lot younger, even though they’re only a year or two apart from Mei and Darren. Some of the lines were cringey and the jokes repetitive. It did take me a while to get into the flow because it felt a little awkward at times. Though I think Ali and Chase grow into the characters more and things just fit better by the end?
The Butterfly Lovers…I actually had a friend tell me the story right as I was starting this book. I had no idea that this story was going to be such a major part of the book, so when I finally fit the pieces together I was shook lol. That being said, I really liked the differences in how the story ended compared to the original. I also loved the little snippets we get from the past, where we get to follow along with Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo. And also the flashbacks we get from the park. The park scenes were a little confusing at first, but I think it was done really well because I was surprised when the plot twist was finally revealed.
Ali’s relationship with her family was difficult to read, and honestly seeing what her mother had planned left me pretty angry. It was just something I could relate to on a personal level, something I could see happening to myself, and it was a little scary and triggering. I did love how Ali confronts both her parents and points out their flaws and how she doesn’t back down when they try to explain themselves with their nonsensical excuses. I was really angry at her mother because she’s so selfish. She ruined what she had because her expectations (which she didn’t bother sharing with her husband) weren’t met. She made decisions because she thought she knew best, which is something so common among Asian parents, I was rolling my eyes along with Ali every single time her mom told her that.
The main problem here was lack of communication, which I think is a huge problem in Asian families. We don’t know how to talk about feelings and we also don’t know how to listen to other opinions. And then things become a mess and it just spirals. Communication was a huge theme in this book, from the way Ali skirts around just asking Chase about his past and turns to theft, to her breaking into her mom’s safe because her mom won’t talk to her, to seeing how her father was too ashamed to discuss his feelings with this wife when he lost his tenure, to Ali’s mother making decisions for her instead of talking to her.
It was painful to read. And while I liked how things were on their way to being resolved at the end, I was actually expecting things to go the divorce route, especially considering the things Ali’s mother said to her father and what she almost did to Ali. It is nice for things not to end that way, and it’s nice to see a family try to communicate with each other and solve their issues rather than everything falling apart. But…I don’t know. Maybe I can’t forgive that easily, or having an outside perspective makes me a bit more harsh. But Ali’s mother isn’t great and pretty toxic. And by the end I really hated her a lot. The cultural divide between Ali and her mother and how what her mother says isn’t 100% what she exactly means, was nice to see because it’s a real thing and it really showed how hard and complicated and confusing it can get when you don’t just have lack of communication but a communication divide because of culture. And while we can blame a lot of that for Ali’s mother’s actions, it still doesn’t take away from the fact that what she did was wrong and awful. And I did like how Ali made sure to point that out at the end too. Healing is a difficult process, filled with ups and downs, when one moment you hate everything and are so angry, and the next you feel pity and guilt and sadness. It’s a mess, and I definitely felt like I was a mess at the end.
4/5 stars.
I look forward to reading the finished copy one day, just to see the differences and how the formatting changes. (The epilogue did feel a little confusing because there weren’t any scene breaks in the arc.)
A must read for everyone. I'm so glad I finally picked this up. It was such an educational and inspiring read, and it made me angry in all the right ways. Some of the points brought up, were ironically mirrored in my personal life. My coworker was saying how her husband was stopped for a random check at the airport for no reason other than being "a little tan", and how she told airport security that her husband was "only tan, not actually dark" and therefore shouldn't be seen as suspicious. I stood there, everything I read in this book sort of flashing before my eyes before I said nothing, because a) I was shocked and b) I just started at this job and I was scared of people hating me if I said anything. It just proved all the points that Reni makes in this book, and it's sad and horrifying, and I wish I could have said something, but it's hard when you're a minority and a poc in a white-dominated work environment. Anyway, a book everyone absolutely needs to pick up.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for an arc of this book!
Me, being the idiot I am, very briefly skimmed the synopsis and completely missed the fact that this book takes place in the 90s lol, so for a part of it I was very confused why walkmans were a thing, and why no one was on social media, or had cellphones. So don't be like me, and actually read the synopsis.
Reading this book was an experience. Seeing how closely our present lives mirror that of people in 1992 was eerie and sad. To think that it's been 28 years since the LA Uprising, and the world has learned nothing since then. It's horrifying and awful, and this book really goes to show how much has stayed the same. I'm really glad I picked this one up right now, not just because of everything going on in the US right now, but also because it was quite eye-opening. I had never heard of the LA Uprising, and the more I read, the more I got to learn, as our main character Ashely learns about what is happening.
One thing I did like about this book is the unique perspective. Ashley is a privileged Black girl. Her parents have worked hard and tried their best to shield her and her sister from the kind of childhood they had, and so she grows up aware, yet unaware of the true brutalities and difficulties that other Black people face. Her friends are all white and she lets their racist comments slide by because she's trying to fit in and not make a big deal about everything. Her sister, on the other hand, grew up more aware, and chose to educate herself about what was going on in different parts of the world, as well as in her own backyard. And throughout the book we see the tension between the two sisters as Ashely tries to tell Jo to stop trying to fix things and protest and just come home.
This isn't a perspective that I've read about before. Most books I've read that centre on Black stories, feature main characters who are right in the middle of it. But despite that, we still see that Ashley does experience things that white people don't (the stares, the comments, the slurs), yet she's also fortunate because she has money and can afford to go to a private school and have access to better education.
I really enjoyed seeing Ashley's relationship develop with LaShawn and Lana, and how she starts to see her friends for who they really are. Also, her closeness to Lucia was so heartwarming and I loved seeing how they spend time together. We also learn so much more about Ashley's family, most of which she was unaware of. It highlighted a history that I know I haven't learned as a Canadian, but I'm sure many people in the US haven't either.
Overall, I do recommend this one, and I also suggest learning more about the LA Uprising after you finish reading it. I wish the book had a little afterwards explaining more about what happened in 1992 and why the author chose to write about this specific event, but other than that, this was a pretty great read. I don't think I loved the writing style, but it didn't take away from the story. Besides that, my only other complaint is that parts of it did read slow and it felt like not a lot was happening. For a book under 400 pages, it did take me longer to get through than I was expecting.
Me, being the idiot I am, very briefly skimmed the synopsis and completely missed the fact that this book takes place in the 90s lol, so for a part of it I was very confused why walkmans were a thing, and why no one was on social media, or had cellphones. So don't be like me, and actually read the synopsis.
Reading this book was an experience. Seeing how closely our present lives mirror that of people in 1992 was eerie and sad. To think that it's been 28 years since the LA Uprising, and the world has learned nothing since then. It's horrifying and awful, and this book really goes to show how much has stayed the same. I'm really glad I picked this one up right now, not just because of everything going on in the US right now, but also because it was quite eye-opening. I had never heard of the LA Uprising, and the more I read, the more I got to learn, as our main character Ashely learns about what is happening.
One thing I did like about this book is the unique perspective. Ashley is a privileged Black girl. Her parents have worked hard and tried their best to shield her and her sister from the kind of childhood they had, and so she grows up aware, yet unaware of the true brutalities and difficulties that other Black people face. Her friends are all white and she lets their racist comments slide by because she's trying to fit in and not make a big deal about everything. Her sister, on the other hand, grew up more aware, and chose to educate herself about what was going on in different parts of the world, as well as in her own backyard. And throughout the book we see the tension between the two sisters as Ashely tries to tell Jo to stop trying to fix things and protest and just come home.
This isn't a perspective that I've read about before. Most books I've read that centre on Black stories, feature main characters who are right in the middle of it. But despite that, we still see that Ashley does experience things that white people don't (the stares, the comments, the slurs), yet she's also fortunate because she has money and can afford to go to a private school and have access to better education.
I really enjoyed seeing Ashley's relationship develop with LaShawn and Lana, and how she starts to see her friends for who they really are. Also, her closeness to Lucia was so heartwarming and I loved seeing how they spend time together. We also learn so much more about Ashley's family, most of which she was unaware of. It highlighted a history that I know I haven't learned as a Canadian, but I'm sure many people in the US haven't either.
Overall, I do recommend this one, and I also suggest learning more about the LA Uprising after you finish reading it. I wish the book had a little afterwards explaining more about what happened in 1992 and why the author chose to write about this specific event, but other than that, this was a pretty great read. I don't think I loved the writing style, but it didn't take away from the story. Besides that, my only other complaint is that parts of it did read slow and it felt like not a lot was happening. For a book under 400 pages, it did take me longer to get through than I was expecting.
HI GUYS, THERE'S A PANDEMIC GOING ON AND SINCE YOU'RE ALL STAYING INSIDE YOU SHOULD PICK UP THIS BOOK ASAP
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is officially the best YA Fantasy release of 2020! I am in shock. There is no way this book is allowed to be THAT good. If you haven't added this one to your tbr, you better, because this book takes all the common tropes we're used to and flips them, making for such a refreshing story with the best characters I've read in a long time.
Where do I even start.
You all know how much I love good world-building. Everything about this book...from the history of Sonande and the Kennouan Empire, the legends and stories of Bahia Alahari and the deities, the religious system, the nkra and different types of magic...was so well done I could cry. I love, love, love details. And this book delivered in more ways than I expected.
I really liked how each patron deity ruled one day of the week and also determined a person's Alignment. It's a unique and interesting concept and I actually enjoyed seeing the similarities and differences between people of different Alignments.
This book tackles a lot of serious issues. One being the colonization and enslavement of people who are considered inferior to the ruling class. The internalized prejudice and misconceptions that were voiced by certain characters in the book felt so real. One of the characters, possibly Driss, but I can't remember, said something about how Eshrans are coming into Ziran and taking all the jobs from the people who've lived here for centuries. As an immigrant, this hit so close to home. Someone else said how the Eshrans have so much food that they don't need it all and therefore owe it to Ziran to give them most of it. The occupation of the Eshran Mountains by the Zirani reminded me a lot of Israel's occupation of Palestine. The excuses used–the Eshrans owe us money, they need help because war is breaking out between the different clans–are all the same excuses used by countries that try to take control and subjugate a group of people. I think it might be a little shocking for some readers who think that things like this don't happen between people who look similar/have similar beliefs. And it's something Malik mentions. He doesn't look any different from the rest of the people in Ziran, but the people have been so brainwashed with this hateful rhetoric, that they can't see past the lies. The persecution and prejudice continues and it's sad to read because of how real and accurately it depicts our world too.
(I was really glad there was a little blurb with all the content warnings at the start of the book. It's something that I want to see done more by authors because it's super helpful especially if there are things that might trigger a reader. We do see scenes where the main character has panic attacks and self-harms. There's mention of physical and emotional abuse. And characters contemplate suicide at times.)
Let's talk about my children.
Malik is literally Soft™️. He is my precious son. I pictured him as this tiny kid the entire book even though I'm pretty sure he's 17/18? But in my head he is a smol and needs to be protected at all costs. Malik is so relatable. In so many ways. We start off the book with him having a panic attack because he feels like a failure for constantly messing up and making things harder for his sisters. It's so sad and you just want to hug him and tell him it's okay to not be perfect and that it isn't his fault that he's so good and kind and wants to do the right thing and things never work out. His relationship with Nadia is so pure. I loved how he would tell her stories to distract her, and would joke around and make her laugh. Leila, on the other hand is a character that frustrates me a little, but one I can also relate to. She had to give up her childhood to take care of her siblings, she's stressed out and trying to hold things together, and her anger gets the better of her. When she calls Malik a coward and that he's just like his father, it really upset me, because it's the worst thing she could have ever said. I am glad they apologized and made up. Sibling relationships are complicated, and I think Leila didn't quite understand what Malik was actually going through.
What I love about Malik is his resilience and determination. He fights through his panic attacks, he learns to harness his magic, and he does his best to not hurt people. That doesn't mean everything goes according to plan. He makes mistakes and gets caught up in Solstasia, and falls for the girl he's supposed to kill, but his loyalty to his sisters is always there. The character arc he goes through is amazing. We see a boy who's been beaten down his whole life, told he's crazy and imagining things, who suppresses his abilities, only to find out that he has magic, and then he's thrown into a world that he doesn't understand, with plots that revolve around him. It's an intense experience and he handles it so well.
My favourite scene was during the second challenge when he tells the story of Hyena. It was beautifully written and it's something Malik points out to himself later as he's struggling to come to terms with the fact that he's related to the Ulraji Tel-Ra: that his magic isn't inherently evil, and that he can create beauty and bring so much joy with his abilities.
One other thing that stood out to me was something Nyeni says to Malik:
Honestly, this quote makes me emotional. I love characters who stay true to themselves and their ideals. Who are kind despite how cruel people can be. Malik is just an all-round great character.
Karina. She's a wonderful, mess of a girl. Complete chaos and full of pent up anger. I loved it all. Honestly the scene where she tells her maids to leave the tent and then just screams was a huge mood. The story starts off with her competing against a bard in a tavern. It was so well-written that I actually felt chills. That is one thing about this book. There are so many scenes where I just feel so proud of Malik or Karina. The scene in the tavern was one of them, and it was only two chapters into the book.
The court politics and plots really made this book for me. It was nerve-wracking trying to watch Karina navigate a world that she wasn’t familiar with. She’s thrown into this position and is not prepared whatsoever. Watching her try and rule a city where no one respects her or thinks her capable enough was so sad. She makes mistakes and embarrasses herself, but she also grows and learns so much throughout this book.
I loved the scene where she fought Dedele and won. And her quick wit and sharp words really made Karina so endearing. I’m still thinking about her response to Malik thanking her for helping him out the previous night:
NOW THAT’S A QUEEN.
I love how this book breaks the usual stereotypes. We have a soft boy falling for the girl. A wonderful scene where Malik sews a tear in Karina’s skirt??!! Karina herself has been in relationships before, which is something we still don’t see a lot of in books.
And then we have Tunde. TUNDE IS THE BEST BOI TO EVER EXIST IN THE HISTORY OF BOOKS. I think he beats Malik in how good he is. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where a guy has been scorned by a girl and proceeds to still treat her with love and respect?? Like why do books like this not exist? What is everyone’s obsession with the whole jealous plotline? It’s not that Tunde doesn’t show signs of jealousy, but it doesn’t overpower his character and make him act rashly. It hurts him because he has feelings for Karina still, but he doesn’t fight Malik over it. I also love how much he cares about Ziran. He didn’t enter the Solstasia contest to win, and once he finds out the prize, his main priority is ensuring that Ziran gets a good king who will do what is right. Tunde is so honorable and lovable and great. I honestly can’t sing his praises enough. The scene where he and Karina get married and Tunde is so gentle and kind, honestly made me emotional. Karina realizing that she could have a great marriage with him because he would love and respect her and also be a great king for Ziran was everything. I honestly could see it happening and it didn’t make me sad or uncomfortable. BUT THEN EVERYTHING GETS RUINED AND IM STILL IN SHOCK.
Farid slitting Tunde’s throat, I don’t think I will ever forgive him. HOW COULD YOU KILL OFF THE BEST BOI?? HOW?? If you’re a fan of She-Ra, Tunde gave me major Bow vibes, and anyone who tries to hurt my sweet boy needs to die a painful death. Tunde was innocent. He was good-hearted and selfless. He deserved so much better.
I had a bad feeling Farid was going to turn out to be the bad guy. When Commander Hamidou told her there was a traitor and Karina eventually told Farid, I had my suspicions because he didn’t seem all that concerned. But at the same time, I’m soft for older brother/adopted brother and sister relationships. Farid seemed to care so much. He knew what Karina needed and how to get her through her migraines. He was her closest friend, and to betray her like that was awful. Seeing his true colours at the end of the book was a little creepy. He did a good job of hiding it and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him in the next book, along with our walking corpse Hanane.
The scene we get where Malik defeats Idir. It was not what I was expecting at all and I am thoroughly surprised and impressed. Malik using his panic attacks and anxiety to trap Idir in his mind is ingenious and honestly very cool. It just solidifies my love for this character. (And also makes me wish I had his abilities) He’s grown so much over the course of one book, and seeing him conquer his fears and become so confident in his abilities and his intellect was just a very proud mom moment.
The one thing I wasn’t a fan of was the romance. It had cute moments, but I think it was a little rushed with how quickly both Malik and Karina developed feelings for each other. I will say though, the romance didn’t take over the plot, and there were plenty of great moments between Karina and Malik that weren’t romance-focused. I think it would have been interesting if Tunde hadn’t died though. But I am a huge Tunde-fan so I’m biased.
Overall, 4.5/5 stars. Seriously considering buying a copy to have on my shelf.
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is officially the best YA Fantasy release of 2020! I am in shock. There is no way this book is allowed to be THAT good. If you haven't added this one to your tbr, you better, because this book takes all the common tropes we're used to and flips them, making for such a refreshing story with the best characters I've read in a long time.
Where do I even start.
You all know how much I love good world-building. Everything about this book...from the history of Sonande and the Kennouan Empire, the legends and stories of Bahia Alahari and the deities, the religious system, the nkra and different types of magic...was so well done I could cry. I love, love, love details. And this book delivered in more ways than I expected.
I really liked how each patron deity ruled one day of the week and also determined a person's Alignment. It's a unique and interesting concept and I actually enjoyed seeing the similarities and differences between people of different Alignments.
This book tackles a lot of serious issues. One being the colonization and enslavement of people who are considered inferior to the ruling class. The internalized prejudice and misconceptions that were voiced by certain characters in the book felt so real. One of the characters, possibly Driss, but I can't remember, said something about how Eshrans are coming into Ziran and taking all the jobs from the people who've lived here for centuries. As an immigrant, this hit so close to home. Someone else said how the Eshrans have so much food that they don't need it all and therefore owe it to Ziran to give them most of it. The occupation of the Eshran Mountains by the Zirani reminded me a lot of Israel's occupation of Palestine. The excuses used–the Eshrans owe us money, they need help because war is breaking out between the different clans–are all the same excuses used by countries that try to take control and subjugate a group of people. I think it might be a little shocking for some readers who think that things like this don't happen between people who look similar/have similar beliefs. And it's something Malik mentions. He doesn't look any different from the rest of the people in Ziran, but the people have been so brainwashed with this hateful rhetoric, that they can't see past the lies. The persecution and prejudice continues and it's sad to read because of how real and accurately it depicts our world too.
(I was really glad there was a little blurb with all the content warnings at the start of the book. It's something that I want to see done more by authors because it's super helpful especially if there are things that might trigger a reader. We do see scenes where the main character has panic attacks and self-harms. There's mention of physical and emotional abuse. And characters contemplate suicide at times.)
Let's talk about my children.
Malik is literally Soft™️. He is my precious son. I pictured him as this tiny kid the entire book even though I'm pretty sure he's 17/18? But in my head he is a smol and needs to be protected at all costs. Malik is so relatable. In so many ways. We start off the book with him having a panic attack because he feels like a failure for constantly messing up and making things harder for his sisters. It's so sad and you just want to hug him and tell him it's okay to not be perfect and that it isn't his fault that he's so good and kind and wants to do the right thing and things never work out. His relationship with Nadia is so pure. I loved how he would tell her stories to distract her, and would joke around and make her laugh. Leila, on the other hand is a character that frustrates me a little, but one I can also relate to. She had to give up her childhood to take care of her siblings, she's stressed out and trying to hold things together, and her anger gets the better of her. When she calls Malik a coward and that he's just like his father, it really upset me, because it's the worst thing she could have ever said. I am glad they apologized and made up. Sibling relationships are complicated, and I think Leila didn't quite understand what Malik was actually going through.
What I love about Malik is his resilience and determination. He fights through his panic attacks, he learns to harness his magic, and he does his best to not hurt people. That doesn't mean everything goes according to plan. He makes mistakes and gets caught up in Solstasia, and falls for the girl he's supposed to kill, but his loyalty to his sisters is always there. The character arc he goes through is amazing. We see a boy who's been beaten down his whole life, told he's crazy and imagining things, who suppresses his abilities, only to find out that he has magic, and then he's thrown into a world that he doesn't understand, with plots that revolve around him. It's an intense experience and he handles it so well.
My favourite scene was during the second challenge when he tells the story of Hyena. It was beautifully written and it's something Malik points out to himself later as he's struggling to come to terms with the fact that he's related to the Ulraji Tel-Ra: that his magic isn't inherently evil, and that he can create beauty and bring so much joy with his abilities.
One other thing that stood out to me was something Nyeni says to Malik:
"...you are kind, Malik Hilali. Do not underestimate the strength it takes to be kind in a world as cruel as ours."
Honestly, this quote makes me emotional. I love characters who stay true to themselves and their ideals. Who are kind despite how cruel people can be. Malik is just an all-round great character.
Karina. She's a wonderful, mess of a girl. Complete chaos and full of pent up anger. I loved it all. Honestly the scene where she tells her maids to leave the tent and then just screams was a huge mood. The story starts off with her competing against a bard in a tavern. It was so well-written that I actually felt chills. That is one thing about this book. There are so many scenes where I just feel so proud of Malik or Karina. The scene in the tavern was one of them, and it was only two chapters into the book.
The court politics and plots really made this book for me. It was nerve-wracking trying to watch Karina navigate a world that she wasn’t familiar with. She’s thrown into this position and is not prepared whatsoever. Watching her try and rule a city where no one respects her or thinks her capable enough was so sad. She makes mistakes and embarrasses herself, but she also grows and learns so much throughout this book.
I loved the scene where she fought Dedele and won. And her quick wit and sharp words really made Karina so endearing. I’m still thinking about her response to Malik thanking her for helping him out the previous night:
”I have been known to appear in people’s dreams from time to time, and I’m glad to hear I graced yours.”
NOW THAT’S A QUEEN.
I love how this book breaks the usual stereotypes. We have a soft boy falling for the girl. A wonderful scene where Malik sews a tear in Karina’s skirt??!! Karina herself has been in relationships before, which is something we still don’t see a lot of in books.
And then we have Tunde. TUNDE IS THE BEST BOI TO EVER EXIST IN THE HISTORY OF BOOKS. I think he beats Malik in how good he is. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where a guy has been scorned by a girl and proceeds to still treat her with love and respect?? Like why do books like this not exist? What is everyone’s obsession with the whole jealous plotline? It’s not that Tunde doesn’t show signs of jealousy, but it doesn’t overpower his character and make him act rashly. It hurts him because he has feelings for Karina still, but he doesn’t fight Malik over it. I also love how much he cares about Ziran. He didn’t enter the Solstasia contest to win, and once he finds out the prize, his main priority is ensuring that Ziran gets a good king who will do what is right. Tunde is so honorable and lovable and great. I honestly can’t sing his praises enough. The scene where he and Karina get married and Tunde is so gentle and kind, honestly made me emotional. Karina realizing that she could have a great marriage with him because he would love and respect her and also be a great king for Ziran was everything. I honestly could see it happening and it didn’t make me sad or uncomfortable. BUT THEN EVERYTHING GETS RUINED AND IM STILL IN SHOCK.
Farid slitting Tunde’s throat, I don’t think I will ever forgive him. HOW COULD YOU KILL OFF THE BEST BOI?? HOW?? If you’re a fan of She-Ra, Tunde gave me major Bow vibes, and anyone who tries to hurt my sweet boy needs to die a painful death. Tunde was innocent. He was good-hearted and selfless. He deserved so much better.
I had a bad feeling Farid was going to turn out to be the bad guy. When Commander Hamidou told her there was a traitor and Karina eventually told Farid, I had my suspicions because he didn’t seem all that concerned. But at the same time, I’m soft for older brother/adopted brother and sister relationships. Farid seemed to care so much. He knew what Karina needed and how to get her through her migraines. He was her closest friend, and to betray her like that was awful. Seeing his true colours at the end of the book was a little creepy. He did a good job of hiding it and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him in the next book, along with our walking corpse Hanane.
The scene we get where Malik defeats Idir. It was not what I was expecting at all and I am thoroughly surprised and impressed. Malik using his panic attacks and anxiety to trap Idir in his mind is ingenious and honestly very cool. It just solidifies my love for this character. (And also makes me wish I had his abilities) He’s grown so much over the course of one book, and seeing him conquer his fears and become so confident in his abilities and his intellect was just a very proud mom moment.
The one thing I wasn’t a fan of was the romance. It had cute moments, but I think it was a little rushed with how quickly both Malik and Karina developed feelings for each other. I will say though, the romance didn’t take over the plot, and there were plenty of great moments between Karina and Malik that weren’t romance-focused. I think it would have been interesting if Tunde hadn’t died though. But I am a huge Tunde-fan so I’m biased.
Overall, 4.5/5 stars. Seriously considering buying a copy to have on my shelf.
LOOK AT THE COVER. WE’VE BEEN BLESSED
***
A lot of you probably know how much I struggled with reading this book. I was fortunate enough to receive an e-arc from Edelweiss, and after rereading the first two books, I finally decided to pick it up. I was really hesitant because Gretal had told me that there were things I probably wouldn’t like, so in a way I was dreading it because I didn’t want my heart to break, but I also didn’t want to get spoiled.
I got 76% of the way through my e-arc when I put it down. I remember the night when I first started thinking about maybe dnfing. It was a couple days before I actually set the book aside, but the days that followed were nothing short of miserable. That first night, I cried myself to sleep. I lay there in bed, curled up, thinking about how pathetic I was to be feeling so heartbroken and betrayed over a book. It wasn’t fair. Instead of me crying because of a really well-written, emotional scene, I was crying because of how angry and hurt I felt. The next day, I felt like I was walking in a dream, because there wasn’t anyone I could talk to about how I was feeling who would understand. Even then, I tried to push myself to continue, but I kept thinking and spiralling, and crying, until I finally decided to just set it down. I told myself, I’d read a few other books, wait for my physical copy to arrive, and then try and read it again from the beginning. I went back and forth though, between just never picking it up again or spoiling myself.
Just writing this out, makes me want to cry, because reading this book the second time around made me feel more numb than anything else, but remembering what I felt the first time makes this so much harder. I love Shannon so much as a person. Her first two books will always hold such a special place in my heart. Kingdom of Copper will always be one of my favourite books of all time. And it sucks to be writing this review, knowing she follows me on my social media, because I don’t want her to know, yet at the same time I think my thoughts are quite valid and I do want other people to see my point of view.
What I Enjoyed
The book starts off with Nahri and Ali in Cairo. Those first few chapters were so bittersweet; it was wonderful to see her reconnect with her home and with Yaqub, but it was also sad knowing, as the reader, that she wasn’t going to be staying there long.
I liked seeing how conflicted Nahri was about what she should do next. I understood her longing for a nice life in Cairo, away from the politics and madness of Daevabad. I understood how tired she was trying so hard to do what was right, for things to only backfire. It made sense for her to want to protect the little she had remaining, when everything around her seemed to constantly go up in flames. She was tired of hurting, of watching those she cared about hurting, and I think her reaction to settle down and build herself a life doing what she loves, without the added responsibility and weight of her title, was reasonable.
Ali, though, was his usual hopeful, righteous self, and despite how dark his world felt after the loss of his brother and his home, it only drove him further. And just like Nahri helped him get through those initial depressive episodes, Ali reminds her of her duty towards Daevabad, making her realize that she could never fully live with herself if she abandoned her friends and her people.
I loved the glimpse we got of what their lives could be like. Nahri, finally living her dream as a doctor, doing what she loves most. The scene where she decides to perform surgery on a boy, only to realize how great it felt to be able to do some good with the skills she’d gained the last few years, despite not having her magic anymore. Yaqub’s offer to give over his apothecary to the both of them was so sweet. I enjoyed Ali’s wide-eyed curiosity of the human world, and how much time he and Nahri spent just talking to each other. It reminded me of the early days of their friendship, when they would sit in Daevabad’s libraries, enjoying Egyptian sweets, and learning about each other’s worlds. It’s rare seeing characters in a book talk about their feelings and catching the other person up on what they’ve missed. It did make the first half of this book kind of slow, and I will admit, I was a little surprised at first to see Nahri opening up so much, since she’s a rather closed-off character. But overall, it was nice to see them bonding and getting closer since their friendship was kind of rocky in KoC.
I want to talk a little about the POV switches. In my reread of Kingdom of Copper, I wasn’t a fan of the Dara chapters. I would find myself so engrossed in what was happening in Daevabad with Ali and Nahri, that when it came to a Dara chapter I was just impatient to get back to the politics and scheming.
However, in EoG, I actually wanted more of Dara and Daveabad. I am not a huge fan of Dara, but EoG does a good job of showing what happens when someone young, impressionable, with an indoctrinated set of beliefs, is used by someone in power for their own gain. The scene when Dara goes to the throne room to see Manizheh and remembers the last time he was there in front of the Nahids did a perfect job showing how manipulative the Nahids really were.
“Their orders. So specific that Dara, who had spoken out of turn not once, drew in a sharp, shocked breath and glanced again at his father, an act that prompted the Nahids to start fretting about what might happen should another Suleiman return. How they’d all be stripped of their magic, their names, their family, their very identity––pressed into human service for untold centuries. How his mother and little sister might suffer in such a disaster.”
It doesn’t excuse any of Dara’s decisions from the past and the ones he made after this point in the book. But I get why he is the way he is, and how he got into this mess. I don’t think many people can understand how hard it is to turn your back on someone you love and respect. How hard it is to take that loyalty and faith and guilt, and throw it all away to do something that you could never have imagined doing. But Dara was given so many chances to change, to repent, to do something that would not end in thousands of people dying at his and Manizheh’s hands. And all those times, he ends up justifying his decisions. He makes excuses, he refuses help when help is offered. It’s common behaviour from someone who’s been abused and experienced so much trauma, but at the same time his decisions affected so many innocent people, people he knew didn’t deserve to be treated this way. And he knew himself how wrong it was. How creating more bloodshed wasn’t going to fix anything. Dara is a complicated character, and while I have no love for him, I do understand him more than I did in the previous books.
Besides Dara, I wish we could have gotten another POV set in Daevabad during Manizheh’s occupation. It would have been so cool to see what Zaynab was up to, how she was rallying the Shafit and Geziri together, what plans they had in mind to protect themselves from Dara, the ifrit, and Manizheh. Even being able to see what Muntadhir was up to once he was freed from his imprisonment. With Muntadhir playing a much heavier role in KoC, I was a little disappointed to see him pushed into the sidelines. I will admit though, the banter between him and Dara was just
***
A lot of you probably know how much I struggled with reading this book. I was fortunate enough to receive an e-arc from Edelweiss, and after rereading the first two books, I finally decided to pick it up. I was really hesitant because Gretal had told me that there were things I probably wouldn’t like, so in a way I was dreading it because I didn’t want my heart to break, but I also didn’t want to get spoiled.
I got 76% of the way through my e-arc when I put it down. I remember the night when I first started thinking about maybe dnfing. It was a couple days before I actually set the book aside, but the days that followed were nothing short of miserable. That first night, I cried myself to sleep. I lay there in bed, curled up, thinking about how pathetic I was to be feeling so heartbroken and betrayed over a book. It wasn’t fair. Instead of me crying because of a really well-written, emotional scene, I was crying because of how angry and hurt I felt. The next day, I felt like I was walking in a dream, because there wasn’t anyone I could talk to about how I was feeling who would understand. Even then, I tried to push myself to continue, but I kept thinking and spiralling, and crying, until I finally decided to just set it down. I told myself, I’d read a few other books, wait for my physical copy to arrive, and then try and read it again from the beginning. I went back and forth though, between just never picking it up again or spoiling myself.
Just writing this out, makes me want to cry, because reading this book the second time around made me feel more numb than anything else, but remembering what I felt the first time makes this so much harder. I love Shannon so much as a person. Her first two books will always hold such a special place in my heart. Kingdom of Copper will always be one of my favourite books of all time. And it sucks to be writing this review, knowing she follows me on my social media, because I don’t want her to know, yet at the same time I think my thoughts are quite valid and I do want other people to see my point of view.
What I Enjoyed
The book starts off with Nahri and Ali in Cairo. Those first few chapters were so bittersweet; it was wonderful to see her reconnect with her home and with Yaqub, but it was also sad knowing, as the reader, that she wasn’t going to be staying there long.
I liked seeing how conflicted Nahri was about what she should do next. I understood her longing for a nice life in Cairo, away from the politics and madness of Daevabad. I understood how tired she was trying so hard to do what was right, for things to only backfire. It made sense for her to want to protect the little she had remaining, when everything around her seemed to constantly go up in flames. She was tired of hurting, of watching those she cared about hurting, and I think her reaction to settle down and build herself a life doing what she loves, without the added responsibility and weight of her title, was reasonable.
Ali, though, was his usual hopeful, righteous self, and despite how dark his world felt after the loss of his brother and his home, it only drove him further. And just like Nahri helped him get through those initial depressive episodes, Ali reminds her of her duty towards Daevabad, making her realize that she could never fully live with herself if she abandoned her friends and her people.
I loved the glimpse we got of what their lives could be like. Nahri, finally living her dream as a doctor, doing what she loves most. The scene where she decides to perform surgery on a boy, only to realize how great it felt to be able to do some good with the skills she’d gained the last few years, despite not having her magic anymore. Yaqub’s offer to give over his apothecary to the both of them was so sweet. I enjoyed Ali’s wide-eyed curiosity of the human world, and how much time he and Nahri spent just talking to each other. It reminded me of the early days of their friendship, when they would sit in Daevabad’s libraries, enjoying Egyptian sweets, and learning about each other’s worlds. It’s rare seeing characters in a book talk about their feelings and catching the other person up on what they’ve missed. It did make the first half of this book kind of slow, and I will admit, I was a little surprised at first to see Nahri opening up so much, since she’s a rather closed-off character. But overall, it was nice to see them bonding and getting closer since their friendship was kind of rocky in KoC.
I want to talk a little about the POV switches. In my reread of Kingdom of Copper, I wasn’t a fan of the Dara chapters. I would find myself so engrossed in what was happening in Daevabad with Ali and Nahri, that when it came to a Dara chapter I was just impatient to get back to the politics and scheming.
However, in EoG, I actually wanted more of Dara and Daveabad. I am not a huge fan of Dara, but EoG does a good job of showing what happens when someone young, impressionable, with an indoctrinated set of beliefs, is used by someone in power for their own gain. The scene when Dara goes to the throne room to see Manizheh and remembers the last time he was there in front of the Nahids did a perfect job showing how manipulative the Nahids really were.
“Their orders. So specific that Dara, who had spoken out of turn not once, drew in a sharp, shocked breath and glanced again at his father, an act that prompted the Nahids to start fretting about what might happen should another Suleiman return. How they’d all be stripped of their magic, their names, their family, their very identity––pressed into human service for untold centuries. How his mother and little sister might suffer in such a disaster.”
It doesn’t excuse any of Dara’s decisions from the past and the ones he made after this point in the book. But I get why he is the way he is, and how he got into this mess. I don’t think many people can understand how hard it is to turn your back on someone you love and respect. How hard it is to take that loyalty and faith and guilt, and throw it all away to do something that you could never have imagined doing. But Dara was given so many chances to change, to repent, to do something that would not end in thousands of people dying at his and Manizheh’s hands. And all those times, he ends up justifying his decisions. He makes excuses, he refuses help when help is offered. It’s common behaviour from someone who’s been abused and experienced so much trauma, but at the same time his decisions affected so many innocent people, people he knew didn’t deserve to be treated this way. And he knew himself how wrong it was. How creating more bloodshed wasn’t going to fix anything. Dara is a complicated character, and while I have no love for him, I do understand him more than I did in the previous books.
Besides Dara, I wish we could have gotten another POV set in Daevabad during Manizheh’s occupation. It would have been so cool to see what Zaynab was up to, how she was rallying the Shafit and Geziri together, what plans they had in mind to protect themselves from Dara, the ifrit, and Manizheh. Even being able to see what Muntadhir was up to once he was freed from his imprisonment. With Muntadhir playing a much heavier role in KoC, I was a little disappointed to see him pushed into the sidelines. I will admit though, the banter between him and Dara was just
AHHHHHHHH IS THIS WHAT PEOPLE FEEL WHEN THEY SEE THEMSELVES IN A BOOK??!! I’m not going to lie, I only picked this up because I heard there was a character named Sakina and I’ve never ever seen a book with a character that has the same name as me. And omg I swear the author has been spying on me because Sakina is an actual copy of me. She has brown eyes, she’s a part of the Scholars (aka they own the largest collection of books), she loves cats and has a pet cat named Aria, and she also loves cake. I mean,,,, this book was everything.
Besides Sakina, I actually really enjoyed the overall story. My only complaint was I wish it took place over the course of a few days instead of 12 hours. A lot happens during that time and at the end I was kind of shocked when Diana points out it’s been only 12 hours.
Diana and Sakina’s friendship was super cute. I love how they work together and lift each other up. I also really enjoyed Augustus’s character. Honestly anyone who brews potions will become a quick favourite for me lol
The book does leave you with a lot of questions, and it sort of ends on a small cliffhanger. I’m excited to see what happens next. This book was reminiscent of PJO in many ways, and I wish I had a book like this when I was little.
(Also, lets support this book instead of the Wonder Woman movies featuring that Zionist actress
Besides Sakina, I actually really enjoyed the overall story. My only complaint was I wish it took place over the course of a few days instead of 12 hours. A lot happens during that time and at the end I was kind of shocked when Diana points out it’s been only 12 hours.
Diana and Sakina’s friendship was super cute. I love how they work together and lift each other up. I also really enjoyed Augustus’s character. Honestly anyone who brews potions will become a quick favourite for me lol
The book does leave you with a lot of questions, and it sort of ends on a small cliffhanger. I’m excited to see what happens next. This book was reminiscent of PJO in many ways, and I wish I had a book like this when I was little.
(Also, lets support this book instead of the Wonder Woman movies featuring that Zionist actress
I'm having a hard time getting my thoughts together for this book. There were parts that I did enjoy and related to a lot, and other parts that dragged and made me want to put the book down.
I started off really enjoying the book. Indian and Pakistani culture have many similarities, so it was nice to see traditional food, clothing, etiquettes and social customs. I liked how the author didn't make the book white-friendly. We didn't have any naan-bread or chai-teas, or detailed explanations about traditions. I really appreciate that in books so much!
The writing started off beautiful, but there were times it got confusing. This book reminded me a lot of The Star-Touched Queen, and one of the reasons I wasn't a fan of that book, was because of the abstract writing style. The descriptions and metaphors threw me while I was reading, and some of them just didn't make much sense. I felt lost and couldn't imagine what was exactly happening, especially when it was related to all the sidereal and music stuff.
Despite the book taking place over the course of 2-3 days, everything felt soooo sloooow. It actually felt like Sheetal was in the star realm for over a week. There wasn't the sense of urgency that you would expect considering Sheetal is trying to heal her father quickly. And while it was nice to explore and see more of her mother's world, I felt bored for a lot of it.
I did love Minal a lot though. She's such a good friend and I loved the moments when Sheetal realizes that she's taken her friend for-granted. Minal is a refreshing character to see because she points out Sheetal's faults, but also supports her and cares for her so much!
The one thing that was done well was the family aspect. Seeing how manipulative Sheetal's Nani is felt waaay too real. Sheetal knows what's being done to her, but goes along with it because you have to choose your battles. We have that one scene where Sheetal tries to explain to her Nani that what she's trying to do is wrong and won't make up for her past mistakes, and her Nani doesn't seem to hear her. I read that scene and actually sat there like wow. How many times have we tried to voice our opinions and point out wrongs, only to be ignored and silenced? And yet, at the end, Sheetal says that despite everything, she still wants to maintain a relationship with her grandmother. And I think, for a lot of South Asians, with family being such an important part of our culture and upbringing, that's something that is super relatable.
I didn't like the romance. I usually don't, so that wasn't super surprising, but it was annoying and cringey. The one thing I did like was Sheetal calling out Dev for using her. I'm glad she didn't just accept his apology and move on right away, but stayed angry with him for most of the book. It would have been perfect if she didn't want to kiss him whenever she saw him though *insert rolling eyes emoji*
The other thing that threw me off was Sheetal's reaction to her mother's plans. She just went along with it, thinking it was a good idea. And when she brings up what she wants to do and is called out by Dev and Minal, it finally hits her how horrible it is that she wants to manipulate her own friends into becoming "good" people. The whole realization happens over the course of a minute, and she apologizes and her friends sort of forget it? It didn't make much sense to me. I wish Sheetal could have realized earlier that her mom's way of fixing things between the stars and mortals wasn't right, and confronted her too.
Overall, 3/5 stars.
I started off really enjoying the book. Indian and Pakistani culture have many similarities, so it was nice to see traditional food, clothing, etiquettes and social customs. I liked how the author didn't make the book white-friendly. We didn't have any naan-bread or chai-teas, or detailed explanations about traditions. I really appreciate that in books so much!
The writing started off beautiful, but there were times it got confusing. This book reminded me a lot of The Star-Touched Queen, and one of the reasons I wasn't a fan of that book, was because of the abstract writing style. The descriptions and metaphors threw me while I was reading, and some of them just didn't make much sense. I felt lost and couldn't imagine what was exactly happening, especially when it was related to all the sidereal and music stuff.
Despite the book taking place over the course of 2-3 days, everything felt soooo sloooow. It actually felt like Sheetal was in the star realm for over a week. There wasn't the sense of urgency that you would expect considering Sheetal is trying to heal her father quickly. And while it was nice to explore and see more of her mother's world, I felt bored for a lot of it.
I did love Minal a lot though. She's such a good friend and I loved the moments when Sheetal realizes that she's taken her friend for-granted. Minal is a refreshing character to see because she points out Sheetal's faults, but also supports her and cares for her so much!
The one thing that was done well was the family aspect. Seeing how manipulative Sheetal's Nani is felt waaay too real. Sheetal knows what's being done to her, but goes along with it because you have to choose your battles. We have that one scene where Sheetal tries to explain to her Nani that what she's trying to do is wrong and won't make up for her past mistakes, and her Nani doesn't seem to hear her. I read that scene and actually sat there like wow. How many times have we tried to voice our opinions and point out wrongs, only to be ignored and silenced? And yet, at the end, Sheetal says that despite everything, she still wants to maintain a relationship with her grandmother. And I think, for a lot of South Asians, with family being such an important part of our culture and upbringing, that's something that is super relatable.
I didn't like the romance. I usually don't, so that wasn't super surprising, but it was annoying and cringey. The one thing I did like was Sheetal calling out Dev for using her. I'm glad she didn't just accept his apology and move on right away, but stayed angry with him for most of the book. It would have been perfect if she didn't want to kiss him whenever she saw him though *insert rolling eyes emoji*
The other thing that threw me off was Sheetal's reaction to her mother's plans. She just went along with it, thinking it was a good idea. And when she brings up what she wants to do and is called out by Dev and Minal, it finally hits her how horrible it is that she wants to manipulate her own friends into becoming "good" people. The whole realization happens over the course of a minute, and she apologizes and her friends sort of forget it? It didn't make much sense to me. I wish Sheetal could have realized earlier that her mom's way of fixing things between the stars and mortals wasn't right, and confronted her too.
Overall, 3/5 stars.
Why experience a real life pandemic, when you can read about it in fiction??
This book was incredible. Creepy, mesmerizing, and hauntingly written. Quite dark, and a little messed up.
It's also very short, and I read it in a little over 24 hours.
I read The Luminous Dead earlier this year, and honestly I can't believe it's written by the same author. The creepiness is definitely there, but the writing style and setting was just so different, but really well done.
Evelyn as a character was just *perfection* I loved everything about her, from her backstory, to her motivations. The ending did confuse me a little, and you're left with a lot of questions, but it fits the overall aesthetic of this story.
The epilogue though...I love it and I sort of want to see more about Violetta.
This book was incredible. Creepy, mesmerizing, and hauntingly written. Quite dark, and a little messed up.
It's also very short, and I read it in a little over 24 hours.
I read The Luminous Dead earlier this year, and honestly I can't believe it's written by the same author. The creepiness is definitely there, but the writing style and setting was just so different, but really well done.
Evelyn as a character was just *perfection* I loved everything about her, from her backstory, to her motivations. The ending did confuse me a little, and you're left with a lot of questions, but it fits the overall aesthetic of this story.
The epilogue though...I love it and I sort of want to see more about Violetta.
I don't know what to say that will do this book justice. I loved all of it. Every perspective. How all the stories intertwine with each other. It was difficult to read, but very eye-opening. I feel like we maybe spent a few minutes talking about the Japanese incarceration camps during WW2 in school, so I didn't know anything besides the fact that they existed. Seeing the conditions, what the Japanese went through, the difficult decisions they had to make, it felt so similar to what we still see happening in our world now. Reading historical fiction this year has been hard, because not a lot has changed. We think we've moved forward, and there have been some improvements, but there hasn't been enough.
I will say one thing, I got a bit confused between the characters mid-way through the book, though that was entirely my fault because I did have to put the book down for a bit because life got busy. I think on a reread I wouldn't be that confused, especially if I read it more closely together.
The writing style though...each character has such a unique voice. I am actually in awe at how well it was done. Twitchy's prose was just like him. Fast-paced, jerky, long run-down sentences. It fit so well. And Tommy's told in verse captured his feelings perfectly. Mary's was harsh and to the point. And Mas' was stoic and to the point. I love how we start with Minnow and end with Minnow, and the drawing of the boys at the end was a perfect way to finish the book.
Highly, highly recommend. This is a book that should be read in schools everywhere in high school, instead of us having to read the same old books over and over again.
I will say one thing, I got a bit confused between the characters mid-way through the book, though that was entirely my fault because I did have to put the book down for a bit because life got busy. I think on a reread I wouldn't be that confused, especially if I read it more closely together.
The writing style though...each character has such a unique voice. I am actually in awe at how well it was done. Twitchy's prose was just like him. Fast-paced, jerky, long run-down sentences. It fit so well. And Tommy's told in verse captured his feelings perfectly. Mary's was harsh and to the point. And Mas' was stoic and to the point. I love how we start with Minnow and end with Minnow, and the drawing of the boys at the end was a perfect way to finish the book.
Highly, highly recommend. This is a book that should be read in schools everywhere in high school, instead of us having to read the same old books over and over again.
I wanted to love this book so much. When I heard about the rep, I was instantly sold and even bought myself a copy, which I rarely do. But unfortunately, this book made me feel super uncomfortable at times, and the romance was disturbing and creepy and just not for me.
I did really enjoy the writing and the plot of the book though. It's written in first person, which I don't normally like in fantasy settings, but Kamai's head was easy to get into and it also helped that we just had her POV. The descriptions though...were out of this world. I honestly felt transported into the book. They were rich and detailed and so easy to picture. I can see why some people wouldn't be a fan of the writing style. Sometimes the descriptions were a bit too long, but since I read this book slowly over the course of 15 days, it didn't bother me as much as it might have if I read the book in a few sittings.
The plot was fascinating, and the world was so unique. I will admit that the first time I attempted to read the book I did find the world to be a bit confusing, but it just takes some time getting used to. The plot was what really saved this book for me. It definitely picked up more in the second half of the book, but I loved seeing Kamai's relationship develop with Nikha in the first half. And while I really hate Vehyn, he does make for a pretty good villain.
The one scene that made me super uncomfortable was when Lenara almost forcibly outed Kamai? At least that's how I found the scene to be. I would have been more okay if it had just been Lenara and Kamai and Nikha. But Zeniri's comments originally made me super uncomfortable. And even just seeing Kamai having to come to terms with something so personal in front of a group of people was a bit triggering? All the sexual comments too were hard to read and made me very uncomfortable.
The romance was just ... It's super problematic, and while Kamai does acknowledge that Vehyn is manipulative and abusive, she's still drawn to him. And I, for one, have never been able to understand how characters do this. I've seen it in a lot of books––the main character falling for the tortured, dark soul, who hurts her and abuses her, and it's never made any sense to me. I could have understood if Kamai was faking it, to use Vehyn's feelings against him eventually, but she legitimately has feelings for him and at the end even admits to loving him?? And I know she says something about how her mother taught her that you can't help who you love, but honestly, I don't get it. I can't imagine loving someone manipulative and abusive.
One thing I did like was how the book doesn't end with Kamai going "oh, I'll just give him a second chance." She realizes that no, she can't just trust him like that, that Vehyn needs to prove he's changed, and she also accepts that she needs to heal, which I think was a nice addition. But the romance still made me super uncomfortable, especially this one line that says: "You're my child, my bride, my soul." Honestly, I'm disturbed and disgusted, and even if Vehyn somehow changed, I would not be okay with a romance like this.
The very, very end was cute though, with Kamai and Kihan going off on their own adventures together. I love how comfortable they both are with each other. Their friendship is so pure and soft. And I love seeing how much they care for one another. Honestly, my favourite moments in this book were the ones between Kamai and Nikha/Kihan, especially when Kamai finally opens up to her friend. It was such a great moment, full of trust and vulnerability, and was definitely the strongest point in this book.
Overall: 3/5 stars
I did really enjoy the writing and the plot of the book though. It's written in first person, which I don't normally like in fantasy settings, but Kamai's head was easy to get into and it also helped that we just had her POV. The descriptions though...were out of this world. I honestly felt transported into the book. They were rich and detailed and so easy to picture. I can see why some people wouldn't be a fan of the writing style. Sometimes the descriptions were a bit too long, but since I read this book slowly over the course of 15 days, it didn't bother me as much as it might have if I read the book in a few sittings.
The plot was fascinating, and the world was so unique. I will admit that the first time I attempted to read the book I did find the world to be a bit confusing, but it just takes some time getting used to. The plot was what really saved this book for me. It definitely picked up more in the second half of the book, but I loved seeing Kamai's relationship develop with Nikha in the first half. And while I really hate Vehyn, he does make for a pretty good villain.
The one scene that made me super uncomfortable was when Lenara almost forcibly outed Kamai? At least that's how I found the scene to be. I would have been more okay if it had just been Lenara and Kamai and Nikha. But Zeniri's comments originally made me super uncomfortable. And even just seeing Kamai having to come to terms with something so personal in front of a group of people was a bit triggering? All the sexual comments too were hard to read and made me very uncomfortable.
The romance was just ... It's super problematic, and while Kamai does acknowledge that Vehyn is manipulative and abusive, she's still drawn to him. And I, for one, have never been able to understand how characters do this. I've seen it in a lot of books––the main character falling for the tortured, dark soul, who hurts her and abuses her, and it's never made any sense to me. I could have understood if Kamai was faking it, to use Vehyn's feelings against him eventually, but she legitimately has feelings for him and at the end even admits to loving him?? And I know she says something about how her mother taught her that you can't help who you love, but honestly, I don't get it. I can't imagine loving someone manipulative and abusive.
One thing I did like was how the book doesn't end with Kamai going "oh, I'll just give him a second chance." She realizes that no, she can't just trust him like that, that Vehyn needs to prove he's changed, and she also accepts that she needs to heal, which I think was a nice addition. But the romance still made me super uncomfortable, especially this one line that says: "You're my child, my bride, my soul." Honestly, I'm disturbed and disgusted, and even if Vehyn somehow changed, I would not be okay with a romance like this.
The very, very end was cute though, with Kamai and Kihan going off on their own adventures together. I love how comfortable they both are with each other. Their friendship is so pure and soft. And I love seeing how much they care for one another. Honestly, my favourite moments in this book were the ones between Kamai and Nikha/Kihan, especially when Kamai finally opens up to her friend. It was such a great moment, full of trust and vulnerability, and was definitely the strongest point in this book.
Overall: 3/5 stars